In the photo above Free Spirit still shows her Canadian registration but she is now located in Cornet Bay on Whidbey Island, WA and is titled and registered in the State of Washington.

There is quite a long list of "goodies" on this Tolly 26. My father and I purchased her in Ladysmith, BC in May of last year with the idea in mind that it would be the perfect compromise boat; room enough in the cockpit for fishing, crabbing, shrimping, and hanging out in harbor and room enough in the cabin for comfortable cruising. Well, she is all those things but we just don't happen to be using any of them. Even though we're long time boat owners and I'm in the boat business it seems we failed to understand exactly how we would be using a boat like the Tolly 26 if we had one. I have to admit that both my father and myself love the Ed Monk design and probably purchased her as much for that reason as any.

With her 350 horsepower EFI inboard she cruises easily at 15 knots though slowing down to 10 knots (or even slower) is comfortable as well. In a very impromptu test on my long run with the boat bringing her home I calculated 1.67 nmpg at 10 knots and 1.6 nmpg at 15 knots. Generally when I take the boat out I cruise around 7 knots and just use the available speed when I need to deal with currents or it's a specific trip (like to Friday Harbor) and time is an issue.

The Tolly 26 is known as a good heavy weather boat and I've found that to be true. She's a heavy boat (most literature reports her at ~9,000 pounds) and runs through most wakes and waves that would have most boats her size dancing around. She has a great deal of flare in the bow and that makes her a usually dry boat.

The flying bridge is large and comfortable and it's one of the few small boats I've been on where being up on the bridge is actually a comfortable experience since the Tolly 26 is so stable. Her wide beam also makes the cabin a comfortable place do be with a large dinette, a large head (for this size boat), and a nice workable galley.

This particular Tolly has had a lot of upgrades, especially in the last 3 years. I've put them below in list form to avoid making this description even longer than it already is.

Here's what swayed us to this particular boat:

Listing Price: $30,000 (U.S.)
Offers Encouraged

Brand new engine (Mercruiser 350 Mag Horizon inboard) in 2006, it now has ~180 hours on it
Brand new fuel tanks in 2007
V-drive completely gone through in 2007
New professional upholstery in 2006
New professional curtains in 2006
New refrigerator in 2007
New Force 10 propane heater in 2007
New stern thruster in 2007
New cockpit canvas in 2007
New Bimini canvas in 2007
New flying bridge cover and windshield cover in 2007
New spare prop in box (worth ~$1,000)
Inflatable dinghy (doesn't look superb but it holds air and works fine)
Stainless propane grill
Anchor windlass (electric)
Bruce anchor
VHF radios upper and lower helm stations
Apelco LCD depth sounder at upper helm
Coastal Nav flasher sounder at lower helm
Furuno radar at lower helm
Furuno GPS at lower helm
Hydraulic trim tabs
 
Free Spirit also has:
Amenities include:
Lower forward v-berth
Large dinette (converts to berth)
Large enclosed head compartment with shower
Recirculating toilet with overboard discharge and pump-out connections
Large galley with propane cooktop
Shore power
Battery charger
A variety of boat spares
Lines
Fenders
PFDs
cabin
cabin1
cabin2
cabin3
free spirit into victoria
June22e
new bim
new bim3
Stairway to flybridge
1977 Tolly 26
E.Q. Harbor Service & Sales
265 Cornet Bay Road
Oak Harbor, WA  98277
www.eqmarine.com
(866) 679-4783